Framed

Living on the shore of one of the largest fresh water lakes in New Jersey affords me the opportunity to see many different species of ducks in the convenience of my own backyard. Our visitors consist of both dabblers and divers which arrive during the spring and fall migrations. Of course we also have our resident ducks as well, with the most common of them being the Mallard. We usually see the Canvasbacks in the spring as they make their way up the eastern flyway. I marvel at these sleek creatures as they effortlessly dive below the water's surface then pop back up again like balloons. They are always easy to spot because their white bodies just glow against the dark water of the early spring.

For me, watching waterfowl is very relaxing. Before making my way to my studio each day, I pick up my binoculars to see what has arrived in our cove. I don't know why, but I always feel especially good whenever I see canvasbacks.